With the cool air outside and kids fast asleep snug in their beds, I watched a little bit of TV last week. I watched part of the chaos that happened in the Republican Presidential Debate on CNN. 
I also watched something a little more fun – the World Series.
What I found remarkable and interesting is the number of experts surrounding both events.
One expert says this. Another one says that. One newspaper reports it this way. Another reports it that way. Even the commercials during these two events had ‘expert’ opinions. One TV commercial for this product had an ‘expert’ say one thing, while a competing product’s ‘expert’ said something else.
It feels like there are more people on TV these days who posses a great deal of confidence in how tomorrow will play out. “Moving forward, I think we’ll be seeing a lot of ups and downs because we don’t have certainty from Washington”, said one financial expert referring to the US economy. “Really? That’s all you can come up with?”, I asked out loud expecting him to respond from the TV. From lots of numbers such as 99%, 53%, 1%, 9% and of course the 9-9-9 to the predictions about the economy, I’m starting to feel overwhelmed.
Who do you believe? Who’s really right? Can I believe anything anymore? Is there anything solid I can count on?
There was a time when I used to believe the ‘experts’. I used to believe they had the right answers because they knew more things than I did. They had the PhD not me. I thought they were experts and well what did I know? But over the last several years, I have come to realize a simple truth: No one can predict the future.
Experts can be right and they can be wrong. But I don’t have to trust any of them. My approach: Trust in Myself.
I believe that in times of great fundamental shift in our life – from jobs and careers to the way we raise our kids, I have to be smarter at listening to my inner voice. At the kind of things my gut used to tell me that I ignored but later regretted. In times of chaos, uncertainty, globalization and increased complexity of life, I must have greater Trust in Myself. I know me. I know who I am and what is possible in my life. Deep down inside, I know the truth. I know what’s right.
I have to remind myself that if I had listened to others, I would not be the person I am today. Had I listened to others, my fist book would not have been published. As a first time author only a few years ago, everyone told me you’re dreaming. I still have the countless rejection letters by publishers and agents. Had I actually listened to them, I would never have had the life experience of writing and getting a book published. I ignored expert voices and achieved a life goal.
I realize that I can’t predict the future and do not pretend to know everything but in uncertain times which no one could predict where no one has the perfect solution, I need to Trust in Myself. I got this. I know me. I am confident in myself and my abilities to make choices that will put me on the right path. I’ve been through tough times before and I know I can handle this by trusting what my parents, grandparents and their parents used in order to survive far worse: human instinct.
